Dilhani Ekanayake
Birth nameDilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake
Native nameදිල්හානි ඒකනායක
Birth date4 March 1970 (age 56)
Birth placeColombo, Sri Lanka
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1990 - Present
SpousePriyankara Perera
RelativesMilton Perera (father-in-law)
Chalaka Chamupathi (brother-in-law)
AwardsSarasaviya Best Actress Award
Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award

Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake (Sinhala: දිල්හානි ඒකනායක; born 4 March 1970) is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] One of the most popular film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Ekanayake has won several awards as the most popular actress in multiple times.

Personal life

Main article: Sri Lanka cinema family

Ekanayake studied at St Clare's girls school, in Colombo. She is married to singer and actor Priyankara Perera son of singer Milton Perera. She has a son, Dilmin Perera.[2]

In late 2020, her husband Priyankara was diagnosed with a kidney failure.[3]

Career

Before becoming a film actress, she acted in few ballets. In 1987, along with Channa Wijewardena, she performed the ballet Ukussa. Ekanayake made her cinema debut in 1991 film Dedunnen Samanaliyak directed by Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. In that year, she won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming Actress. In 1992, she won the award for the Most Popular Actress at the same festival.[4]

Her early roles were confined to commercial films. Her ability to dance and her trade mark smile captivated the audiences. She is known as the Sridevi of Sri Lanka.[5] Her career hit a different trail with her role as an abandoned Tamil girl in the film Me Mage Sandai by Asoka Handagama. This serious role paved the way for other remarkable performances in Sudu Kalu Saha Alu (Shades of Grey), Mage Wam Atha (My Left Hand) and Sulanga (Wind). In 2005, she again won the award for the Best Actress for the role Sudu Kalu Saha Alu at Sarasaviya Festival. In 2007, she won Presidential award for the Best Actress for the role in Sulanga.[4]

Also she made some notable roles in Mage Wam atha, Sulanga, Me Mage Sandai, Sudu Kalu Saha Alu, Pem Kekula, Nilambare, Gamani and many comedy films such as Cheriyo Darling, Chaya Maya etc.[4]

Though cited as a cinema actress, she has also starred in several teledramas of which Maya Ranga, Swarna Kingkini, Meeduma, Sath Sanda Kirana and Amarapuraya stand out.[4] She plays a major role in the Sri Lankan movie star show Ridee Reyak, which is a very popular annual event in Sri Lanka. She also performed as a judge of Ranawiru Real Star and Mega Star as well. Her latest performance came through in Dhawala Doowili, Bharyawo,[6] and Deviya Sugala teledramas.

Awards

Sarasaviya Awards

|- || 1991 ||| Dedunnen Samanaliyak || Best Upcoming Actress || |- || 1992 ||| || Most popular Actress || |- || 2002 ||| || Merit Award || |- || 2002 ||| All performances of the year || Special Jury Award || |- || 2005 ||| Sudu Kalu Saha Alu || Best Actress ||

Presidential Film Awards

|- || 2001 ||| Me Mage Sandai || Best Actress || |- || 2005 ||| Sulanga || Best Actress || |- || 2023 ||| Ginnen Upan Seethala || Best Supporting Actress ||

[7]

Signis Salutation Awards

|- || 2001 ||| Me Mage Sandai || Silver Performance (Female) || |- || 2012 ||| Gamani || Gold Performance (Female) ||

Derana Film Awards

|- || 2012 ||| Gamani || Best Actress || |- || 2015 ||| People's vote || Most popular Actress || |- || 2018 ||| Dharmayuddhaya || Best Actress ||

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1990Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1991Wada Barinam Wadak NaThilini
Asai Bayai
Love In Bangkok
Dhanaya
1992Jaya Sri We Kumariye
Malsara DoniMangala
Chandi Rajina
KulageyaEdna's younger daughter
Suranimala
1993PrathignawaVindya
Sarasa Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
Mawila Penevi Rupe Hade
Chaya MayaChaya / Maya
Jeevan Malli
Sandarekha
Sura Weera ChandiyoKumari
1994Ekada Wahi
Jayagrahanaya
Nohadan LanduneKanthi
Okkoma HondataiAnusha
Sudu PiruwataSuranya
Love 94Umani Baby
1995Vijay Saha AjayHashini
Pudumai Eth AththaiThusha
Edath Chandiya Adath ChandiyaPavithra
Dalulana Gini
1996Sabae Mithura
Cheriyo DarlingMiss Sweetie
MadhuriMadhuri 'Madu'
1997Ramba Saha Madhu
Pemmal MalaPawansala
Re RuKumari
1999Rathu AluyamaSulochana[8]
KolompoorTanisha
Koti Sana
Seetha SamireAmitha[9]
NagaranChithra
2000Premilla
Kauda Bole AliceNirmala
Me Mage SandaiTamil Woman
Pem KakulaSumudu[10]
2001Jack And JillArundathi
Kolomba KoloppanDilhani
Sellan Kukka[11]
2002Seethala Gini KanduSunny's daughter
Pissu DoubleBhagya Ekanayake
Kalu Sudu MalNirmala Mudunkotuwa 'Rohini'
Cheriyo Holman[12]
Thahanam GahaNirmala[13]
Mage Wam AthaKamal's wife
Surapurata Kanyaviyak[14]
2003Sundarai AdareMeena
Pissu TribleCichchi Cichchi Baby
Sonduru DadabimaSamangi Ranasinghe
Yakada PihatuNadeesha Kulasobana
Sudu SaluThamara[15]
Hitha Honda PissoWimala
2004Bambara Sanakeli
Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3Kamala Baby
Ohoma HaridaNamali
Samawenna Ma Raththarane
RajjumalaPunya[16]
2005Sudu Kalu Saha AluKomala
SulangaCrisanthi
2006Naga KanyaMadhu
NilambareSamadhi
Rana Hansi
Kurulu PihatuShalika[17]
SewwandiShirani
2007Hai MasterSurangani
2008Puthuni HambagiyaUthpala
Siri Raja SiriSirimal's mother
Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai
2009Sinasuna AdarenMrs. Karandeniya
Akasa KusumShalika
2010Thank You BertyMala
2011SinhawalokanayaSubharath Manike
MahindagamanayaQueen Ramadatta
GamaniSulochana Weerasekera
2013Ira Laga WadiSewwandi
2014Siri DaladagamanayaQueen of King Guhasiva
ParapuraSudharma
Que SeraTara
Ko Mark No MarkRupika Mihirani
2015SpandanaPiyumi
Lantin SinghoSamadara
2016Sujatha PuthraMrs. Hettiarachchi
2017Aloko UdapadiQueen Consort Anula
Kota Uda ExpressPabawathi
DharmayuddhayaRani
Heena Hoyana SamanalluMadhavi Wijebandara
Paha SamathSamath's mother[18]
2018SeyaIP Waruni Dissanayake[19]
2019Ginnen Upan SeethalaDoctor's Wife
Weli PawuruPiyumi Ekanayake[20]
Suba TheraniyoSumana
ReloadPrincy[21]
2020Rookada PanchiRangi's mother[22]
2021Uthuru Sulanga[23]
Jangi HoraNayani[24]
2022Happy BirthdayNita Saparamadu
2023Deweni Yuddhaya[25]
Ape PrincipalPrincipal[26]
2024Minnu[27]
2025Rosa AdareAnuj's mother
Tentigofather's mistress
Walampoori: Seven and Half DreamsMadam Sisika[28]
2025SooryaSoorya's mother
2025Mother Lanka[29]
2026Fatherolder Sandalatha[30]
2026Dharmayuddhaya 2Rani Harischandra[31]
2026Sura Detuwo[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]

References

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